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LAS VEGAS – Travis Lopes Jr. is a former US Army National Guard reservist and father of two, but when he enters the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) ring, a switch flips, almost literally.
Inside the ring, Lopes is known as Flip Gordon. He is the current CMLL All-Time World Middleweight Champion and, in Las Vegas this week, he will help the company make history. CMLL will present its first individual show in the United States. It will arrive in the middle of WrestleMania week as professional wrestling fans descend on Las Vegas for a few days of hard-hitting, high-flying action.
Lopes detailed his journey from the National Guard to a professional wrestling ring.
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CMLL star Flip Gordon is thrown out of the ring. (CMLL)
“I started in 2015. I was in the Army National Guard at the time and moved from the state of Idaho to the state of Massachusetts to begin this incredible journey of becoming a professional wrestler,” he said. “And now, almost 11 years later, it has taken me all over the world. I have seen more than 15 countries and now I have a beautiful life here in Mexico.”
He said professional wrestling was always his dream, he just took it on a different path than most.
But it was his time in the military that helped him gain the discipline he needed to stay the course and focus on his ultimate goal. He said he joined the military when he was just 20 years old and that serving helped him become an “adult.”
“For me, I always wanted to be a professional wrestler. So this is something I always knew I wanted to do. Obviously, life takes you down different paths, but in the end, I ended up where I wanted it to be. But if it wasn’t for the Army, I don’t think I would have ever become a professional wrestler. The Army taught me a lot of things about how to be an adult.
“I joined when I was 20, but it taught me discipline. It taught me work ethic. It taught me how to be away from my family because being in the military was the first time I was away from my family for a long period of time,” he told Pak Gazette Digital. “But I think the work ethic and the discipline really helped me the most because wrestling requires a lot of discipline. Not just the in-ring aspect, but also the travel, being away from home, the discipline of, if you’re on a strict diet, not eating junk food or fast food.
Flip Gordon prepares for a match in CMLL. (CMLL)
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“So, discipline is really a big part of it. And I think another thing that helped me was my time in college before the National Guard. I was a mascot. But I was able to train with cheerleading and gymnastics, and that’s where I learned control of my body. I think if it weren’t for these things, especially in the military, I don’t think I would have ever been a successful professional wrestler.”
Being in CMLL was also part of his dream, as he saw legendary professional wrestlers like the late Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho compete for the company and ultimately become major stars around the world.
Lopes said he first received his opportunity in CMLL when he was in Ring of Honor. He made his debut at the company’s anniversary show. He said he did not initially think he would be offered to stay with the company, as he was only in the first few months of his contract with Ring of Honor.
He was hoping to take off in September 2017 when an earthquake nearly derailed any hopes of making that dream a reality. He said his willingness to stay in Mexico and see the community come together helped him fall in love with Mexico and led him to a CMLL ring full-time.
“I came here in September 2017, I made my debut at the anniversary show. I was here about two and a half weeks and then there was a big earthquake, and they canceled the shows that whole week because they had to inspect the buildings, make sure it was safe to hold events,” he recalled. “And I went to the office and I was like, ‘I know I’m supposed to leave on Monday,’ and I was like, ‘But can I stay another week?’ And they said, ‘Well, we can’t pay you more.’ And I said, ‘Well, I couldn’t wrestle this week.’ So, basically it’s the same.’ I said, ‘If you’re willing to pay for my hotel for the next week so I can stay here, I’d love to stay another week so I can give you the committed dates.’
“And then, I was able to stay here one more week. And those three and a half weeks, I think it was, I fell in love with the country of Mexico. I fell in love with the culture, I fell in love with Lucha Libre, I fell in love with the food. Seeing how everyone came together in a time of need was very inspiring and I loved that feeling that everyone had. It’s almost like camaraderie, very similar to the army, but it was a whole culture, a whole country coming together for each other.”
Flip Gordon receives a CMLL championship around his waist. (CMLL)
The CMLL World Historic Middleweight Championship is also known as the National Wrestling Alliance World Historic Middleweight Championship. Gordon captured the title in November 2024, defeating Villano III Jr. at CMLL Viernes Espectacular.
Gordon will be in a tag team match with Captain Suicide in Las Vegas. The two will face Masquerade and Neon. It is one of the few matches that CMLL has organized during the week.
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The CMLL show will be part of Slam Fest, which will take place at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort. Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Stardom, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and House of Glory will also hold shows at the venue.
The event begins at 3 pm PT.
